Help with new kitchen light.Will not switch off and trips

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

Hi guys,

I have two tri spotlights in my kitchen and one lamp went haywire this week and started to play up. I decided to change it. However, when I started to change it today I realised I had a problem. Basically its an oldish house with the old style wires. 2 red, 2 black and two bare with green sleeve around them. These are not earth wires as they were not connected to anything in the old light, and the new light I just bought is double unsulated.

Anyways, I came to change the light and the two reds were taped together and covered up when the old light was in place. After a bit of research and having no luck at all with the black wires, I decided to free the reds ,join them up and in put them into live. I then joined both the blacks and put them into neutral slot. Hey presto, the light came on but when I tried to turn it off it wouldn't go off.So the crux of the matter is that I get both lights in the kitchen on, and try to turn them off the fuse trips.

Now im led to believe that there is a missing link in the switch wire, casuing this problem. Ive changed the switch as I had a new one in my tool box, but am still getting the same problem. None of the wiring in the switch was any different to the old lights, so am mystified here.

if you can help-please do.

Untitled

hannie0509
25 Apr 2014
1

Untitled

hannie0509
25 Apr 2014
1

Thanks ever so much,

Lee

AndyPRK · 25 Apr 2014

You were correct first time.

The reds should be connected together out the way.

The blacks separated and 1 put in each light terminal

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

Thanks buddy.

So im just going to use the blacks and that's it? There are only two terminals on the block on the light itself, and im assuming you are saying just put one black in each terminal

Taylortwocities · 25 Apr 2014

Yes, and the two earths should be connected together in a separate terminal block, Not connected to the light itself!

AndyPRK · 25 Apr 2014

The reds should be connected together in a terminal block.
That sounds like the original problem

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

Ok guys,

Ive just done that. The two black wires are now in the terminal. However, the bloody switch still will not turn the light off.

AndyPRK · 25 Apr 2014

Quite possibily broken the switch.

Try disconnecting the switch wires.
Tape them up seperatly
Turn fuse box on and if the lights off you know it's the switch

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

Also, the switch doesn't turn the light off at all, which is a good thing as it was tripping before Andy helped me

EFLImpudence · 25 Apr 2014

hannie0509 said:
and two bare with green sleeve around them. These are not earth wires as they were not connected to anything in the old light,

Except, hopefully connected to earth at the other end; hence the name.

Anyways, I came to change the light and the two reds were taped together and covered up when the old light was in place. After a bit of research and having no luck at all with the black wires, I decided to free the reds ,join them up and in put them into live.

Didn't it previously work as it was?

I then joined both the blacks and put them into neutral slot.

Not a wise thing to do with a live and a neutral.

Hey presto, the light came on but when I tried to turn it off it wouldn't go off.So the crux of the matter is that I get both lights in the kitchen on, and try to turn them off the fuse trips.

Would this, perhaps, be by turning the switch ON?

Aren't fuses and trips wonderful? Where would you be without them?

Now im led to believe that there is a missing link in the switch wire, casuing this problem.

There's a missing link somewhere.

Ive changed the switch as I had a new one in my tool box, but am still getting the same problem. None of the wiring in the switch was any different to the old lights, so am mystified here.

But the wiring at the ceiling is different isn't it?

Please CLICK and study.

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

Andy,

ive just taken the switch off and the lights are not going on, so im assuming its not the switch buddy.

Monkeh · 25 Apr 2014

hannie0509 said:
Andy,

ive just taken the switch off and the lights are not going on, so im assuming its not the switch buddy.

That tells you it is the switch. If you now connect the two wires together, the light will be on. What does this say about the switch?

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

yep,sorry chap.

Switch it is then

AndyPRK · 25 Apr 2014

Yeap new switch required

All that fusing has welded the contacts together.
You could trying opening it up for a laugh and see if you can seperate them
If you don't have a new switch before morning.

hannie0509 · 25 Apr 2014

just making sure here:,but the switch has been wired as such:

BLACK L1
RED COM
BLACK L1
RED COM

Is this wired ok? seeing as though the reds are taped the other end?

lee

Monkeh · 25 Apr 2014

hannie0509 said:
just making sure here:,but the switch has been wired as such:

BLACK L1
RED COM
BLACK L1
RED COM

Is this wired ok? seeing as though the reds are taped the other end?

lee

Just because the colour is the same, doesn't mean they're the same cable!

Those reds will be permanent line coming from two different lights. The blacks (which should be sleeved!) are switched line going out to each fitting.

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Help with new kitchen light.Will not switch off and trips

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